Events from the year 1997 in Ireland.
Incumbents
President: Mary Robinson (until 12 September 1997) Mary McAleese (from 11 November 1997) Taoiseach: John Bruton (FG) (until 26 June 1997) Bertie Ahern (FF) (from 26 June 1997) Tánaiste: Dick Spring (Lab) (until 26 June 1997) Mary Harney (PD) (from 26 June 1997) Minister for Finance: Ruairi Quinn (Lab) (until 26 June 1997) Charlie McCreevy (FF) (from 26 June 1997) Chief Justice: Liam Hamilton Dáil: 27th (until 15 May 1997) 28th (from 26 June 1997) Seanad: 20th (until 10 July 1997) 21st (from 17 September 1997)
Events
8 January – Russia sought to widen its ban on the importation of Irish beef due to bovine spongiform encephalopathy. 27 February – The new law providing for divorce came into effect. 6 March – Michael Lowry resigned as a member of the Fine Gael party. 7 March – President Mary Robinson met Pope John Paul II in the Vatican. 17 March – The new national independent radio station, Radio Ireland, went on the air. 8 April – Author Frank McCourt was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his book Angela's Ashes. 6 June – In the general election, Fianna Fáil won a plurality of seats and formed a coalition government with the Progressive Democrats. Bertie Ahern replaced John Bruton as Taoiseach, and Mary Harney of the Progressive Democrats became Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. 12 June – President Mary Robinson was appointed UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. 16 June – National University of Ireland, Maynooth came into existence with the commencement of the Universities Act, 1997. 25 June – Film makers arrived for two months of shooting at Curracloe, County Wexford to re-create the D-Day Normandy invasion scenes for Steven Spielberg's film Saving Private Ryan. 3 July – Taoiseach Bertie Ahern met United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair for the first time. 6–11 July – Nationalist riots in Northern Ireland: There was violence in nationalist areas of Northern Ireland after an Orange Order parade was allowed down the Garvaghy Road by the Royal Ulster Constabulary in Portadown as part of the Drumcree conflict. 9 July – Counsel for Charles Haughey admitted that the former Taoiseach accepted £1.3 million from businessman Ben Dunne. 20 July – The Irish Republican Army instituted a second ceasefire. 31 August – The British Ambassador to Ireland, Veronica Sutherland, led tributes to Diana, Princess of Wales, killed in Paris. 6 September – Thousands of people queued at the British Embassy in Dublin to sign a book of condolence for Princess Diana. Due to the large turnout, three books of condolence were made available. Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Tánaiste Mary Harney, Minister for Foreign Affairs Ray Burke, Fine Gael's Nora Owen and Labour's Ruairi Quinn all signed their condolences. Thousands of bouquets and cards were left at the gates of the embassy. Books of condolence were also made available at the Mansion House, Dublin and at City Hall in Cork. 6 September – All flags on state buildings in Ireland flew at half mast as a mark of respect for Princess Diana on the day of her funeral. 7 September – A special service of remembrance for Princess Diana, was held in St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, attended by the President Mary Robinson, (on one of her final official engagements as President) and the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern. 12 September – Mary Robinson resigned as President to assume her new role as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. 18 September – The converted Collins Barracks in Dublin re-opened to house the National Museum of Ireland's Decorative Arts and History collections. 7 October – Substantial all-party peace talks began in Northern Ireland. 10 October – At a Provisional Irish Republican Army General Army Convention held at Falcarragh, County Donegal, a majority supported the ceasefire. 31 October - Mary McAleese won the presidential election. November – IRA members opposed to the ceasefire, led by Michael McKevitt, met at a farmhouse in Oldcastle, County Meath, and formed a new organisation of Óglaigh na hÉireann, which became known as the Real Irish Republican Army. 1 November – The Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal Act, 1997, took effect. 7 November – Dick Spring confirmed that he was resigning as leader of the Labour Party. 11 November – Mary McAleese was inaugurated as the eighth President of Ireland, the first time in the world that one woman succeeded another as elected head of state. 13 November – Ruairi Quinn won the leadership of the Labour Party. 27 December – The Loyalist Volunteer Force leader Billy Wright was shot dead in the Maze prison in Northern Ireland by members of the Irish National Liberation Army.